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Chuck Hagel being vetted for national security post

Former Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel is being vetted for a possible top national security post in the Obama administration, multiple sources told The Cable.

Hagel, who co-chairs President Barack Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board, which provides independent advice on the effectiveness of the intelligence community, could be in contention for either secretary of state or secretary of defense, people familiar with the vetting process say.

Hagel, a moderate realist on foreign policy, would be a comfortable ideological fit for the president. He has publicly supported many of the administration’s foreign-policy moves from his perch at Georgetown University, while often excoriating the GOP for what he sees as a takeover by “the extreme right.”

Hagel was a harsh critic of George W. Bush’s foreign policy, especially his decision to invade and occupy Iraq, which he once called “an absolute replay of Vietnam.”

Spent an hour with Hagel in 2006, while working for a Congressional Committee that he chaired, and left his office physically sick over this alleged “Republican’s” stance on most of the important issues of the GWOT. In short, this is a man who has little taste for Israel and a great love of her enemies. I won’t be shocked if he becomes the third big-name squish to join the No Labels gang.